When you really think about it, the controls for your dirt bike are pretty simple...maybe even a little archaic. There’s your front tire, wheel, fork legs, triple clamps, handlebars, and finally grips. That’s about all that separates your hands from the dirt. Then consider that really the only cushioning dividing you and the vibrations made by the fire breathing beast between your legs is the few millimeters of rubber on your grips, and it’s easy to understand why there are so many companies involved in the business of keeping your meat hooks comfy.

Granted, OEM grips have come a long way in the last few years, but let’s be honest, who keeps their stock grips for more than a few rides? Wait, you do? Well, buzz off. This article is for normal people only.

Pro Taper has been making grips for quite a while now, and one of their most popular (certainly their most unique) grip is the Pillow Top. As the name infers, the Pillow Tops are just about the exact opposite of the stock grips. Instead of hard, thin, and unforgiving, the Pro Tapers are soft, thicker, and easy on the hands.

So what’s the scoop? The Pillow Tops are undoubtedly some of the softest grips on the market. However, thanks to the dual compound, they also hold up well over the long haul with the harder rubber at the flange, base, and end of the grip. Pro Taper took the time to think outside of the box (which, for years was only comprised of diamond and waffle patterns, and three different compounds), and came up with a new traction pattern designed to increase padding and decrease fatigue.

First time users will immediately notice that the Pillow Tops have a bigger diameter than even most full-waffle grips, and because of this, it can take a few laps to adjust. I have found that the benefit of these particular grips is most noticeable in rough, choppy conditions. At the end of a long day of riding or racing, when your hands normally just can’t take another bump, the Pillow Tops provide that extra cushion to allow you to bust out those few extra laps.

Some riders feel that the original Pillow Top design is a little too big, and for that, Pro Taper offers the Pillow Top Lite; a thinner, more tamed down version of the original. However, for the riders with big hand and long fingers, the original Pillow Tops are a great choice.